From Challenge to Change

How Kingswood’s Community Center will shape Riverside’s future

CONTRIBUTED BY EDIS COMPANY AND THE WRK GROUP

WILMINGTON’S KINGSWOOD Community Center is undergoing a monumental transformation that will have a lasting impact on Riverside, one of the city’s most underserved neighborhoods. With a median household income of $12,087 in subsidized housing and only 36% of children living above the poverty line, Riverside’s residents have long faced significant challenges. Now, thanks to a $56 million investment supported by local, state, and federal funds, Kingswood is set to expand its services and better meet the needs of the community.

The new Kingswood Community Center will be over four times the size of the current facility, featuring an 81,000-square-foot building designed to offer a wide range of programs for all ages. Among the most significant improvements is the expansion of the child care program, which will serve 250 children, including infants—more than doubling its current capacity. This expansion reflects a critical need in Riverside, where many families struggle to find affordable, quality child care.

The redevelopment of Kingswood has been made possible by a collaboration between government and private partners. State and federal contributions, including $17 million in funding through Congressionally Directed Spending, $8 million through the American Rescue Plan Act, and $11 million in State of Delaware Capital Improvement funds, have been supplemented by foundation and corporate grants from the Longwood Foundation, Crystal Trust, Barclays, and others.

“This project shows what can be achieved when a community comes together to support its most vulnerable members,” said Logan Herring, CEO of The WRK Group, which manages Kingswood. “We’re not just building a new center—we’re creating opportunities for people to thrive.”

In addition to child care, Kingswood’s new facility will provide resources for Riverside’s senior population. The Jimmy Jenkins Senior Center will offer a variety of health, wellness, and social programs for older residents, many of whom have lacked access to such services in the past. An expanded medical center will also address healthcare needs in a community where disparities in health outcomes are prevalent.

This transformation is part of the larger REACH Riverside initiative, which aims to revitalize the neighborhood by replacing outdated housing with modern homes and providing economic opportunities for residents.

The initiative is addressing the 60% employment rate in public housing and the low educational attainment among Riverside adults, with only 65% holding a high school diploma or more. The new Kingswood facility will provide not only health and social services but also programs that help residents build skills and access new opportunities.

The success of this project is the result of collaborative efforts between several key groups. Logan Herring, CEO of The WRK Group (The Warehouse, REACH Riverside & Kingswood Community Center), has played a leading role in overseeing the entire project. REACH Riverside is driving the broader revitalization of the neighborhood, with the new Kingswood facility as a cornerstone of that effort. EDiS Company is serving as the construction manager and Fern Clendaniel is the architect. Together, this team is working to build a facility that will serve Riverside for generations to come. The new Kingswood Community Center is more than just a building—it’s a symbol of what can be achieved when a community comes together to invest in its future.